Abstract
This article examines the comprehensive assessment of the environmental and economic performance and social significance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), using a company in Western Kazakhstan as an example. During the analysis of the treatment plant’s performance, the potential for using activated sludge as an alternative energy source was explored. Initially, it was found that activated sludge could be used as boiler fuel at the treatment plant. In the future, after drying the sludge, it could be used to replace coal at combined heat and power plants (CHPs) when production is set up. The article analyzes international research and modern approaches to sustainable water use and municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. The paper examines the role of wastewater treatment facilities in minimizing anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems and reducing production costs. It also assesses the prospects for greening protected areas and the social impact of modernizing the region’s infrastructure. The research aims to optimize wastewater treatment facilities through the conservation of resources, water reuse and the use of energy-saving technologies. Practical recommendations have been developed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of wastewater treatment plants, taking into account the climatic conditions of Western Kazakhstan. Water conservation is a goal of sustainable development. Conserving water resources through high-efficiency treatment plants will save natural water, which is also the goal of this study. The article’s materials may be useful for specialists in water management, environmental policy, environmental design, and regional planning.